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Europa Nostra strengthens its participation at Exponatec Cologne 2015

November 18, 2015 | Posted in Partnerships

Exponatec Cologne, Europe’s most important trade fair for the museum, conservation and restoration sectors, is taking take place from 18-20 November 2015 in Cologne, Germany. Cultural heritage, preventive conservation, lighting and multimedia are the main topics of this edition. Europa Nostra, the German Museums Association and The Best in Heritage are the cooperation partners of this biennial event. A visit to the Europa Nostra stand in hall 3.2 is a must.

“Europa Nostra attaches high importance to our long-standing partnership with Exponatec Cologne. Ever since its establishment, Exponatec Cologne has supported the work of Europa Nostra and its country representation in Germany – Europa Nostra Deutschland. This continuous support has helped us increase our visibility and further extend our network in Germany and elsewhere in Europe,” stressed Alexander Fürst zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, Vice-President of Europa Nostra and President of Europa Nostra Deutschland. “We are also grateful for their on-going support to The Best in Heritage event of which Europa Nostra is proud to be the main partner. We look forward to many more years of fruitful cooperation for the benefit of Europe’s heritage and in support of many stakeholders who work, as professionals and volunteers, to safeguard and enhance this heritage,” he added.

On 19 November, Europa Nostra Deutschland, the Federation for Country and Environment in Germany, the German Foundation for Monuments Protection, the German Castles Association and the Association for the Protection of Monuments and Landscapes in the Rhineland Area are organising a colloquium entitled ‘Monuments and Modern Art in Dialogue’.
Wild performances in a timbered house, a lighting system as a special event, modern sculptures in a baroque garden? Art calls attention, but how far may it go? Links between art and historic monuments can create a tense – yet also provocative – relationship of cooperation and conflict. The aim of this conference is to reflect upon the topic’s facets and to point out potentials and challenges. It addresses all those interested in the subject, particularly professionals and volunteers working in the fields of urban planning, art and its communication, and the preservation of historic buildings and cultural landscapes.

The colloquium, which is taking place at the Congress Centre East, Offenbach-Saal (10.30am-16.30pm), was opened by Alexander Fürst zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, Vice-President of Europa Nostra and Chairman of Europa Nostra Deutschland.

In his opening remarks, Arne Petersen, CEO of Koelnmesse, welcomed the participants and thanked Europa Nostra and Europa Nostra Deutschland for their close cooperation. Arne Petersen gave special thanks to Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn for his firm commitment to giving a stronger emphasis to cultural heritage at the Exponatec fairs, in particular through the organisation of colloquiums on important topics related to heritage.

The Best in Heritage Excellence Clubwas held on the morning of 18 November. During the symposium, Europa Nostra’s Vice-President Piet Jaspaert gave a short presentation about the organisation and the European Heritage Awards run by Europa Nostra in partnership with the European Commission. The education and raising awareness project The Coen Case in Hoorn (the Netherlands), winner of an EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award 2014 and voted the most influential project at The Best in Heritage conference 2015, was one of the four winning projects presented this year.

On 19 & 20 November, at its stand in hall 3.2, The Best in Heritage offers once again free expert advice on issues related to cultural heritage and technology in Meet the expert rounds. In addition, visitors can watch more than 200 videos of award-winning projects shown at The Best in Heritage conferences over the past 13 years.

Around 200 international companies, associations and institutions are showcasing their product innovations and advancements in hall 3.2 of the Koelnmesse. Exponatec Cologne covers all of the sector’s central topics and offers visitors from around the world an extensive and high-quality overview of the state-of-the-art museums.

In November 2013, the event welcomed some 4,000 visitors from Germany and abroad. A total of 186 organisations from 15 countries participated in the fair.

For detailed information on the programme, please visit the Exponatec Cologne website.